How to Move Music from Computer to iPhone in 2023: iTunes, iCloud, AirDrop, and More

How to Transfer Music from Computer to iPhone in 2023 and Beyond

If you are a music lover, you probably have a lot of songs stored on your computer. But how do you transfer them to your iPhone so you can enjoy them on the go? In this blog post, I will show you four easy ways to transfer music from a computer to an iPhone in 2023 and beyond. Whether you want to use iTunes, iCloud, AirDrop, or a third-party app, I will guide you through the steps and explain the pros and cons of each method. By the end of this post, you will be able to choose the best option for your needs and transfer music from your computer to your iPhone in no time.

Why Transfer Music from a Computer to an iPhone?

There are many reasons why you might want to transfer music from a computer to an iPhone. Here are some of the most common ones:

You want to sync your music library across your devices and access your songs anytime, anywhere.
You want to save space on your computer by moving your music files to your iPhone.
You want to backup your music collection and prevent data loss in case of a computer crash or virus attack.
You want to share your music with your friends and family via Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or email.

You want to discover new music and playlists from Apple Music, Spotify, YouTube Music, or other streaming services.

Whatever your reason is, transferring music from a computer to an iPhone is a simple and convenient way to enjoy your favorite tunes on your smartphone.

How to Transfer Music from Computer to iPhone with iTunes

iTunes is the official software from Apple that allows you to manage your media files on your computer and sync them with your iPhone. It is compatible with both Windows and Mac computers and supports various formats such as MP3, AAC, WAV, AIFF, and more. To transfer music from a computer to an iPhone with iTunes, follow these steps:

Download and install the latest version of iTunes on your computer from here.
Connect your iPhone to your computer with a USB cable and unlock it with your passcode or Face ID.
Launch iTunes on your computer and click on the device icon in the upper left corner.
Click on the Music tab in the left sidebar and check the box next to Sync Music.

Choose whether you want to sync your entire music library or selected playlists, artists, albums, or genres.

Click on Apply or Sync in the lower right corner and wait for the process to complete.

Pros:

It is free and easy to use.
It allows you to sync your music library across your devices.
It lets you create playlists, edit metadata, and convert formats.
Cons:
It requires a USB cable and a stable connection.
It may erase some existing music files on your iPhone if they are not in iTunes.

It may take a long time if you have a large music collection.

How to Transfer Music from Computer to iPhone with iCloud

iCloud is the cloud storage service from Apple that allows you to store and access your data online. It also enables you to sync your music files across your devices via iCloud Music Library. iCloud Music Library is a feature that matches your songs on your computer with those in Apple Music or iTunes Store and uploads them to iCloud. To transfer music from a computer to an iPhone with iCloud, follow these steps:

Sign up for an Apple Music or iTunes Match subscription on your computer or iPhone. Apple Music costs $9.99 per month and offers unlimited access to over 70 million songs, while iTunes Match costs $24.99 per year and only matches and uploads your songs.

Turn on iCloud Music Library on both your computer and iPhone. On your computer, open iTunes go to Edit > Preferences > General, and check the box next to iCloud Music Library. On your iPhone, go to Settings > Music and toggle on Sync Library.

Wait for iCloud Music Library to scan and upload your songs from your computer to iCloud. This may take some time depending on the size of your music library and the speed of your internet connection.

Once the upload is complete, open the Music app on your iPhone and tap on Library. You will see all your songs from your computer available for streaming or downloading.

Pros:

It does not require a USB cable or a physical connection.
It syncs your music library across your devices automatically.
It lets you access over 70 million songs from Apple Music if you have a subscription.

Cons:

It requires an Apple Music or iTunes Match subscription which costs money.
It may not match some of your songs correctly or at all if they are not in Apple Music or iTunes Store.

It may use up your iCloud storage space and cellular data if you stream or download a lot of songs.

How to Transfer Music from Computer to iPhone with AirDrop

AirDrop is a feature that allows you to share files wirelessly between your Apple devices using Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. It is fast, secure, and easy to use. To transfer music from computer to iPhone with AirDrop, follow these steps:

Make sure both your computer and iPhone are connected to the same Wi-Fi network and have Bluetooth turned on.

On your computer, open the Finder and locate the music files you want to transfer. You can select multiple files by holding down the Command key while clicking on them.

Right-click on the selected files and choose Share > AirDrop.

On your iPhone, swipe down from the top right corner of the screen and tap on the AirDrop icon. Choose Everyone or Contacts Only depending on your preference.

On your computer, you will see your iPhone appear in the AirDrop window. Drag and drop the music files onto your iPhone icon and wait for the transfer to complete.

On your iPhone, you will receive a notification asking you to accept the files. Tap on Accept and choose whether you want to open them with the Music app or save them to the Files app.

Pros:

It does not require a USB cable or an internet connection.
It is fast and secure.
It lets you transfer any music file format.
Cons:
It may not work if your devices are not compatible or have low batteries.
It may not transfer some metadata such as album art or lyrics.
It may not add the transferred songs to your music library automatically.

How to Transfer Music from Computer to iPhone with a Third-Party App

Many third-party apps allow you to transfer music from a computer to an iPhone without iTunes or iCloud. Some of the most popular ones are:

iMazing: A powerful and versatile app that lets you manage and transfer all kinds of data between your computer and iPhone. It supports various music file formats, preserves metadata, and allows you to create backups and restore data. It costs $44.99 for a single license and offers a free trial.

AnyTrans: A user-friendly and comprehensive app that lets you transfer and manage music, photos, videos, contacts, messages, and more between your computer and iPhone. It supports multiple music file formats, syncs metadata, and allows you to download music from online sources. It costs $39.99 for a single license and offers a free trial.

EaseUS MobiMover: A simple and efficient app that lets you transfer music, photos, videos, contacts, messages, and more between your computer and iPhone. It supports MP3, M4A, M4B, M4P, M4R, RM, WAV, WMA, MDI, and AAC music file formats, keeps metadata intact, and allows you to customize your transfer settings. It is free for personal use.

To transfer music from a computer to an iPhone with a third-party app, follow these general steps:

Download and install the app of your choice on your computer from its official website.

Connect your iPhone to your computer with a USB cable and unlock it with your passcode or Face ID.

Launch the app on your computer and follow its instructions to transfer music from your computer to your iPhone.

Pros:

They offer more features and flexibility than iTunes or iCloud.
They support more music file formats and metadata than AirDrop.
They are easy to use and have clear interfaces.
Cons:
They may cost money or have limitations for free versions.
They may require additional software or drivers to work properly.
They may not be compatible with some devices or operating systems.

Conclusion

As you can see, there are many ways to transfer music from a computer to an iPhone in 2023 and beyond. Each method has its advantages and disadvantages, so you need to choose the one that suits your needs best. Here is a quick summary of the four methods:

Method	Pros	Cons
iTunes	Free; Syncs music library; Creates playlists; Edits metadata; Converts formats	Requires USB cable; May erase existing music; May take a long time
iCloud	No USB cable; Syncs music library automatically; Accesses Apple Music	Requires subscription; May not match songs correctly; May use up storage space and data
AirDrop	No USB cable or internet; Fast and secure; Transfers any format	May not work if devices are incompatible or have a low battery; May not transfer metadata; May not add songs to the library automatically
Third-party app	More features and flexibility; Supports more formats and metadata; Easy to use	May cost money or have limitations; May require additional software or drivers; May not be compatible with some devices or systems